This document contains a collection of quotes from influential figures throughout history who made predictions that turned out to be incorrect. Some key examples include the director of the US Patent Office in 1899 who said that all inventions had already been invented, and the president of IBM in 1943 who said there would be a world market for only 5 computers. The quotes serve to illustrate that experts are often wrong in predicting new technologies and should not discourage innovation.

1. Andrew Humphries
How to build your marketing
strategy

2. “Everything that can be invented has
been invented.”
Charles Duell, Director US Patent office. 1899

3. “The horsemen need not get
alarmed that the motor car will
injure their business in our
country.”
Eastern Chronicle, New Glasgow, 19 April 1907

4. “No flying machine will ever fly from
New York to Paris.”
Orville Wright

5. “Airplanes are interesting toys but of
no military value.”
Marchal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre

6. “This 'telephone' has too many
shortcomings to be seriously considered
as a means of communication. The device
is inherently of no value to us.”
Western Union internal memo, 1876

7. “The telephone will be used to inform
people that a telegram has been
sent.”
Alexander Graham Bell

8. “It seems the only people using the
machines were a small number of
prostitutes and gamblers who didn't
want to deal with tellers face to face.”
Luthur Simian, inventor of the ATM

9. “I think there is a world market for
maybe five computers.”
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943

10. “There is no reason anyone would
want a computer in their home.”
Ken Olson, president, chairman & founder of Digital Equipment Co, 1977

11. “So we went to Atari and said, „Hey, we've got
this amazing thing, even built with some of your
parts, and what do you think about funding us?
Or we'll give it to you. We just want to do it.
Pay our salary, we'll come work for you.‟ And
they said, „No.‟ So then we went to Hewlett-
Packard, and they said, „Hey, we don't need
you; you haven't even got through college yet.‟”
Apple Computer founder Steve Jobs on attempts to get Atari and
HP interested in his and Steve Wozniak's personal computer.

12. “Don't be afraid to go out on
a limb. That's where the fruit
is.”
H.Jackson Browne

13. “People who say „It can‟t be
done…‟ should stop interrupting
those of us who are doing it.”
Henry Ford

14. “A ship in the harbour is safe,
but that is not what ships are
built for.”
Anonymous

18. Sales Cycle Buying Cycle
1. Suspect 1. Identify Need
2. Prospect 2. Analyse Solutions
3. Presentation 3. Gather Information
4. Demonstration 4. Identify Budget
5. Benefits / ROI 5. Determine Benefit
6. Negotiation 6. Negotiation
7. Contract 7. Contract
8. BUYER‟S REMORSE!